The World Loses a Cartoonist: Scott Adams, Creator of 'Dilbert,' Dies at 68

Scott Adams, the cartoonist famous for creating the comic strip "Dilbert," has died at the age of 68. He passed away on January 13, 2026, after battling prostate cancer. His former wife, Shelly Miles, announced his death during a livestream on his YouTube channel, "Real Coffee with Scott Adams".

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on June 8, 1957, in Windham, New York, Scott Raymond Adams showed an early interest in cartooning. He was inspired by Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comics and started drawing at the young age of six. Adams graduated as valedictorian from Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School in 1975. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Hartwick College in 1979. In 1986, he received a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

Before becoming a full-time cartoonist, Adams worked in various corporate jobs. He held positions at Crocker National Bank and Pacific Bell. These experiences working in the corporate world provided him with the inspiration for his most famous creation, "Dilbert".

The Rise of 'Dilbert'

Adams created "Dilbert" while working at Pacific Bell. The comic strip, which first appeared on April 16, 1989, satirized the absurdities of corporate culture. "Dilbert" quickly gained popularity in the 1990s, becoming a relatable symbol for office workers everywhere. The comic was syndicated in over 400 newspapers by 1994 and eventually appeared in around 2,000 newspapers worldwide.

"Dilbert" follows the life of Dilbert, a nerdy engineer, as he navigates the illogical and frustrating world of his workplace. Key characters in the comic strip include Dilbert's pointy-haired boss, his cynical dog Dogbert, and his fellow coworkers Alice and Wally. Adams's comic resonated with millions because it humorously portrayed the everyday struggles of office life. The comic strip highlighted heavy bureaucracy and pointless benchmarks, where employee effort and skill were often underappreciated.

In 1996, Adams left his corporate job to pursue cartooning full-time. That same year, he released "The Dilbert Principle," a bestselling book that further explored his views on the workplace. In 1997, Adams received the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist and Best Newspaper Comic Strip. The "Dilbert" comic became a cultural phenomenon, leading to books, merchandise, and even an animated television series.

Shift Towards Political Commentary

From 2015 onward, Adams started focusing more on conservative political commentary. He wrote blog posts supporting Donald Trump and hosted a daily podcast where he discussed various topics, including politics and current events.

Controversies and Cancellation

In February 2023, most U.S. newspapers stopped publishing "Dilbert" after Adams made controversial comments about race on his YouTube livestream. Adams described Black people as a "hate group" and advised white people to "get the hell away" from Black people. These remarks were widely criticized as racist.

Adams's comments led to significant repercussions. Andrews McMeel Universal, the company that distributed "Dilbert," dropped the comic strip. His literary agent also ended their relationship. Despite the backlash, Adams defended his statements and claimed he was a victim of a "woke mob". He relaunched "Dilbert" as "Dilbert Reborn" on a subscription-based website.

Health and Final Message

Adams announced in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He shared his experiences with the illness on his online platforms. In a farewell message read by his former wife after his death, Adams said, "I had an amazing life. I gave it everything I had".

Legacy

Scott Adams leaves behind a complex legacy. He is best known as the creator of "Dilbert," a comic strip that captured the frustrations and absurdities of corporate life for millions of readers. "Dilbert" became a cultural phenomenon, influencing workplace humor and inspiring countless parodies. However, Adams's later shift towards political commentary and his controversial remarks about race significantly tarnished his reputation. Despite the controversies, his work had generated upwards of $200 million dollars in publishing, licensing, media and merchandising deals.

Adams's life was marked by both creative success and public controversy. He will be remembered for his contributions to the world of cartooning and his impact on the way people view the modern workplace.